John Fletcher (1579-1625) after 1774

Curator: This is a bust of John Fletcher, the Jacobean playwright, created by Wedgwood. Editor: It's striking! The dark material lends such gravity to his expression and the textures of his hair and beard—what is the material? Curator: It's made of Wedgwood's black basalt, a type of stoneware developed to imitate ancient materials. Editor: So, it's mimicking bronze or marble, elevating pottery to high art? That makes you wonder about the labor involved in creating it. Curator: Precisely! Wedgwood capitalized on the demand for classical forms, democratizing access to art through industrial production and shaping taste in the process. Editor: It's a fascinating intersection of art, industry, and social ambition. Curator: Indeed, a window into the artistic and economic currents of the late 18th century.